Zac To The Future

Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Monday game. I apologize for the jokes written in my delirium in advance. Have questions? Ask me during my office hours on Twitch weekday mornings from 9 am-11 am ET.  

Zac Gallen (ARI) vs PIT (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 89 pitches.

We should talk about Mr. Zac Gallen, a man who has been shockingly solid through the year – yes, I’m surprised as he hasn’t blown me away, but has rarely been bad, allowing him to boast a 3.12 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP after tonight’s phenomenal 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 89 pitches performance against the Pirates, securing his third win in four games.

Phenomenal it was with at least three whiffs on each of his pitches and earning a marvelous 37% CSW on both his curve and changeup. His pitch separation was brilliant from high heaters to low secondaries, and the man cruised through seven frames. Today was a good day.

I really hope it continues and I don’t have to roll my eyes at Pittsburgh’s “offense” when trying to believe Gallen can pitch like this with consistency. I haven’t seen his arsenal complement each other this well for a long time and I’d love to see him ride off into the sunset of 2022, primed for a true 2023 breakout. Here’s to hoping, for all of us Gallen Gals.

 

Let’s see how every other SP did Monday:

 

Chris Bassitt (NYM) vs CIN (W) – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 114 pitches.

I can hear the Bassitt hounds barking that Chris deserved a higher ranking today on The List and while I’m thrilled he’s continued his strong stretch (114 pitches, too!), I can’t reward a start against the Reds on the road too much. But hey, that’s a King Cole and his slider + cutter returned nine whiffs. You love to see it.

José Suarez (LAA) @ OAK (ND) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 14 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 97 pitches.

Ayyyy it worked! Like really worked! His changeup was great, the slider and four-seamer…were okay, but yay Athletics! I’d be careful looking at this line and believing it’s safe starting him against the Mariners, and let’s just be happy we got this lovely stream to kick off our weeks (if you were bold enough).

Alex Wood (SF) @ SD (ND) – 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 89 pitches.

Hot dang, look at you! I think I’ve been overrating the Padres offense as the additions of Soto and Bell haven’t done a whole lot for the squad since the trade deadline, but it’s not like Wood didn’t pitch well to deserve this. His sinker earned a whopping 38% CSW with his 92.5 mph heater, and his slider + change earned a fair amount of strikes to make it through nearly seven innings. Enjoy the Pirates next, those that still rostered him, you deserve it.

Tyler Beede (PIT) @ ARI (ND) – 3.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 57 pitches.

So at least it wasn’t walk-topia (no wheels in sight!) and the guy was pumping 96 mph heaters with a solid curve. Huh. I wonder if he can keep that up across 80+ pitches by the end of August. Huh.

Cole Irvin (OAK) vs LAA (ND) – 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 16 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 94 pitches.

The man is on a roll. He’s also going to get the Astros a fourth time in his last seven starts, though he’s succeeded in all of his last three. Is this enough of a Vargas Rule for you to chance it? Maybe? I still don’t quite believe it’s happening.

Keegan Thompson (CHC) vs WSH (W) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 22% CSW, 85 pitches.

The wind was blowing in and I corrected my ranking from Do Not Start to Questionable earlier today and I’m glad Keegan made me not regret it. That said, his stuff was not at its peak and he got a bit lucky here. Good ole Natty Lite coming through in the clutch. Maybe he can pull it off in Cincy next, too, but I really don’t like trusting Keegan. He’s too volatile.

Blake Snell (SD) vs SF (ND) – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 103 pitches.

Another strong outing from Snell as he tossed just two changeups (YES), earned 16 whiffs on breakers (happy Gallows Pole), and featured 66% strikes on his four-seamer. That’s the dream…well, maybe not allowing eight baserunners, too, but I won’t get greedy.

Jordan Lyles (BAL) vs TOR (W) – 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 1 Ks – 4 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 103 pitches.

That’s one h*ck of a Dusty Donut with ten baserunners and just one strikeout (HAISTBMBWT?!), but those daring enough to start Lyles against the Jays were rewarded with a dub and a decent ERA, so at least you got that going for you. I’m terrified to start the man moving forward, still.

Jameson Taillon (NYY) @ SEA (W) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 108 pitches.

That’s a solid outing from Taillon as he bounced back with his curveball (47% CSW!) and cutter, though I still think he’s playing too much of the “pitch to contact” game inside the zone without the most elite stuff to make me feel better about it. He may be the most Toby of the bunch as I feel on edge each time, yet totally understand everyone feeling like there isn’t anything better on the wire. He gets the Red Sox next and, guess what, I’m uneasy about it.

Justin Dunn (CIN) @ NYM (L) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 70 pitches.

He’s back and sitting a tick lower on the heater. The curve and slider aren’t polished and now we play the Frozen Banana waiting game. I may freeze watching it. And he still hasn’t moved. Some say the banana froze before he did.

Aníbal Sánchez (WSH) @ CHC (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 91 pitches.

There really isn’t much to chase here, so what are you running after? Nick, it’s my routine 30-minute jog. Why are you wearing a sweatband? Carry on.

Yusei Kikuchi (TOR) @ BAL (L) – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 25% CSW, 84 pitches.

So, we’re done here, right? The room nods collectively It is settled.

Logan Gilbert (SEA) vs NYY (ND) – 4.0 IP, 7 ER, 10 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 91 pitches.

Poor Gilbert. He still doesn’t have a proper #2 pitch and the heater got hit pretty dang hard by the Yankee bats. At least he should soar against the Angels next. I just feel bad for the guy as his ERA now sits at 3.47 after sitting at 2.77 before these two starts against the Yankees.

 

Game of the Day

 

Gerrit Cole vs. Luis Castillo: The Quickening – It’s the sequel and I’m dying to see how Cole rebounds + more Castillo in Seattle is a wonderful thing.

But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.

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Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)